Like many other Spurs fans, I’m sure, I’ve had a pretty good day today.
It had been far, far too long.

As an aside, before I launch into my analysis of the goals, I’d say that Redknapp’s Sun column is worth a read today.

It’s good to see Huddlestone get a special mention – I thought he was exceptional in a slightly unfamiliar role on Wednesday evening, but not many seem to have picked up on his performance.

He played the holding role, and was so disciplined and clever throughout the game. When Modric and Palacios have played together, they’ve both been here, there and everywhere. With Huddlestone in there, Modric could wander, safe in the knowledge that Tom had his back. Now, I don’t think that Huddlestone is, therefore, a better bet as the more defensive-minded midfield player, but I think that the emphasis has to be on the partnership.

If only he could weigh in with a few more goals, I think he would get the chance for England that he probably deserves.

Rose’s goal.

Spurs prepare to take a corner – I think we will have fancied our chances from corners, as Almunia isn’t particularly good on crosses, and Arsenal were also missing Gallas and Song.

As it happens, Almunia actually gets quite good distance on his punch. However, he then falls over rather dramatically…

As Almunia scrambles to his feet, he bumps into a defender (possibly Campbell), and this stops him retreating to his line quickly. Rose claims that he was initially going to bring the ball down, but decided to strike it first time at the last minute.

His technique is spot on. Will he ever strike a ball better?

Almunia simply can’t scramble back quick enough, and it goes in just over his head.

I loved Alan Parry’s “WHAAAAT A GOOOOOAL!” commentary!

Bale’s goal.

Bale’s goal couldn’t have come at a better time – straight after the restart.

A long ball finds Defoe wide on the left. He actually mis-controls it, as it hits his heel and bounces off, which probably does us a favour.

Instead of trying to run in behind, he holds the ball up really well.

Assou–Ekotto makes an excellent run, which takes some of the emphasis off Bale, who is now looking to move in behind the centre back.

Whether Defoe is just feeding this into an area or intentionally looking for Bale is regardless – it’s a tremendous ball.

Perfectly weighted for Bale to stroll on to it, safely onside, due to Sagna’s absolute ineptitude.

It looks as though he needs to take it round Almunia and finish with his right.

But isn’t that a calm finish with his left? Great move, great finish.

Bendtner’s goal.

We could have done without the nervous last five minutes!!

Robin van Persie made a huge difference, coming on against some tired legs. Here, he has dropped off, and holds the ball up on the edge of the area. Modric probably isn’t close enough, and Dawson and King should perhaps be a little more aware of Bendtner’s position, as they have left Assou–Ekotto to deal with him. Having said that, Assou–Ekotto could probably have stepped up and played Walcott offside.

It’s a nicely-weighted pass for Walcott, who still has quite a bit to do. Bendtner’s in an offside position, but isn’t active.

All those bodies back mean that Walcott’s pass has to be inch perfect. In fairness, he gets it absolutely spot on.

Bedntner bundles the ball home, and leaves us with a tense finale.

However, we needn’t have worried, as a certain someone had, I would imagine, the best twenty minute performance of his life. Exceptional….

OK, that may be pushing it, but you get the general idea.

I was sick of hearing Andy Gray talking about how many players Arsenal were missing last night (Fabregas, Gallas, Arshavin, van Persie and Song are the ones who would start), especially when we were without key players too in Lennon, Woodgate, Corluka, Kranjcar and Palacios.

We have copied with injuries quite remarkably this season – players previously thought of as squad players (Pavlyuchenko, Bale and Huddlestone) have cemented themselves in the team, and competition for first team places will be very strong when we get all of our players back.

And as an aside, brilliant description from the BBC last night:

“Spurs goal: You won’t see a better goal on a full league debut ever. A Spurs corner from the right is punched away by Manuel Almunia to about 30 yards out where Danny Rose is lingering and the youngster hits the most glorious, sizzling, thumping left-foot volley you could ever want to see. Think Michael Essien vs Barca last season, but with bells on. Utterly sensational.”

Rose’s goal.

It’s going to be a good day.

I’m not a person that likes to make excuses, but I did feel that there was some genuine injustice in the game yesterday, hence my post earlier this morning.

It wasn’t a good performance from Spurs – we seemed to play within ourselves, perhaps trying to conserve energy for the tough run of games coming up. Three of our key players – Modric, Defoe and Dawson – were all well under-par, although in the case of Dawson and Defoe, it could be argued that they were half-fit. Huddlestone also looked far from 100%.

All this said, we still managed 35 shots on goal, and dominated possession – it could have been so different, but for the Wembley pitch, and an inept performance from Alan Wiley. A frustrating game to say the least.

Piquionne’s goal.

Portsmouth are awarded a questionable free-kick some distance out, which is floated in.

Kevin Prince Boateng beats Bassong in the air all too easily – he out-muscles him.

Then the vital moment. Michael Dawson loses his footing on the (now infamous) Wembley turf.

This leaves Piquionne with the simple task of beating Gomes, who is admittedly in no man’s land.

Boateng’s goal.

Dindane leads a counter, as Spurs are pressing for an equaliser. Palacios admirably tracks him and, despite not looking like making up the ground, he gets side on, and makes a challenge. I must admit, from my angle up the other end of the pitch, it looked like a nailed-on pen.

But Palacios clearly takes a healthy chunk of the ball.

You could argue that he goes through the player first, but I think this picture illustrates nicely that he doesn’t – he stretches a leg in to take the ball. Referees often rely on the direction the ball travels in these situations but, unfortunately for us, it gets caught in Dindane’s feet, and doesn’t move the way that you would expect it to.

And this, the moment that we’d been hoping to avoid for 9 matches – he was even rested for 2 of them! His 10th yellow of the season, which means that he misses the Arsenal and Chelsea games. A nightmare at the best of times, but with Huddlestone half-fit, and Jenas not having played since the 10th Feb, it will leave us desperately short in the centre of midfield (again).

A well placed penalty from the entirely dislikable Boateng. Why did it have to be him?